Belt conveyer idler



March 2 1943. ci. R. WEI-ss ETAL BELT coNvEYER IDL'ER Filed June 1o,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2H Patented Mar. 2, 1943 BELT CONVEYER IDLER CharlesR. Weiss and Richard W. Parker, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors toLink-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 10, 1941,rSerial No. 397,474

4 Claims.

This invention relates to belt conveyer idlers and deals morespecifically with new and useful improvements in the intermediatebrackets which support adjacent ends of the angularly arranged rolls oftroughing idlers.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved formof intermediate bracket for troughing idlers of belt conveyers.

A further important object of the invention is to provide intermediatebrackets for idler rolls which are so constructed that Vany one or moreof the rolls may be dismantled in an improved manner without disturbingthe remaining rolls or withoutrequiring the entire idler to be removedfrom the frame of the conveyer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means forretaining the rolls in place against accidental dislodgment both duringshipment and while in service.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means foreliminating the possibility, during lubricating of the center roll, ofthe short grease pipe or fitting from being pushed up into contact withthe moving belt and carried thereby to the other side of the idler. Whenan attendant applies grease to tting by means of the conventional greasegun, a certain amount of pressure must be used to unseat the checkvalves, which normally seal the ends of the fitting and the gun,v and toprevent leakage between the intertting and coacting end portions ofthese two devices. A threaded connection is provided between vthefitting and the roll shaft and if the tting is; not. restrained in someway, the aforementioned pressure will cause a loosened fitting to bepushed up into engagement with the belt and, fin being carried over tothe other side of the idler, will puncture the belt.

More speciiic objects of the invention are to so. construct theaforementioned roller assembly re.- taining means and the upper endportion of the bracket that materials spilled from the belt cannot enterand become lodged in the space around the ends of the roll shafts whichare supported by the bracket and to so construct the upper end portionof the bracket that it will provide a substantial mounting for theanti-friction bearing adjusting nuts which are mounted on the shortprojecting end portions of the rollshafts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent `duringthe course of the following description. s s' In the accompanyingdrawings forming a part, of this specification and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an elevational viewof a belt conveyor idler Io f thetroughing type which includes the improved form. 0f intermediate rollmounting bracket embodying this inv-truien,Y

`therewith,

Figure i is an inner, side elevational View of an intermediate bracketwith certain elements illustrated in Fig. 2 associated therewith, and

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view disclosing the upper end portiono-f a bracket with a slightly modified form of securing element for theroll retaining clip.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are show-n thepreferred embodiments of this invention, and first particularlyreferring to Fig. l, the reference character 6 designates in itsentirety a troughing idler for a belt conveyer. This idler includes abase 1 which is of inverted, T-shape in vertical section. The outer endsof this base has suitably attached thereto the end brackets 3 `whichproperly support the outer ends of the shafts, not shown, for the endrolls 9. Properly spaced along the base 1 are the two intermediate orcenter brackets IE), which specifically form the subject matter of thisinvention, and which support the inner ends of the shafts for the outerrolls 9 and both ends of the shaft for the center roll Il. Thesebrackets 8 and Ill are so shaped that they will support the rolls 9 andIl with their axes properly, angularly arranged to trough the belt l2.

Fig. 1 discloses the opposite end portions of the T-shaped base 'l asbeing properlyV attached to the parallel stringers. 'I3 which form apart of the frame of the conveyer. Due to this manner of attaching theidler 6 to the str-ingers I3, the idler is of the iixed type. It will beappreciated, however, that the intermediate brackets Il), whichspecically embody this invention, are intended to be used withself-aligningidlers as well as with the fixed type of idler specificallyshown and for that reason the illustration of a fixed idler in Fig. 1 isnot to .be construed as limiting the use of these intermediaterbrackets. As self-.aligning idlers are very common in the art, it shouldnot be necessary to disclose the intermediate brackets assembled in oneof the same.

One of the intermediate brackets I is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 4inclusive and will be specically described in connection with thesefigures. It will be noted that the intermediate body portion of thebracket is of T-shape in transverse or horizontal section. Thisintermediate body portion, therefore, includes the side flange I4 andthe center web I5. The foot or base |6 of the bracket is bifurcated oris formed of parallel, spaced parts II which are adapted to straddle thecenter web la of the idler base 7. Suitable openings IB are provided inthese spaced portions II to permit rivets, or the like, to be employedfor attaching the bracket to the idler base.

The upper end of the main` body portion of the bracket is integrallyconnected with the two forks I9 and 2D. The fork I9 is but slightlyoffset inwardly of the flange I4 of the bracket. The fork 20 is inclinedat a slight angle to the fork I9 and is attached to the upper, outercorner of the web I5. It will be appreciated, therefore, that thevertical loads borne by the fork I9 are applied directly to the flangeI4 while the Vertical loads borne by the inclined fork 20 are applied tothe web I5.

The fork I9 is provided with a notch 2| which is shaped to provideparallel side edges and a curved or arcuate bottom edge. The arms andthe base of this fork are rabbeted at 22 for a purpose to be explainedat a later point. The rabbets of the arms of the fork provide parallelsurfaces which are offset with respect to the parallel side edges of thenotch 2|. The rabbet for the bottom of the fork is spaced'. downwardlywith respect to the bottom of the notch 2| and is really formed by thetop edge of the ange I4 of the body portion of the bracket.

The fork 20, also, has its arms and its base rabbeted at 23 to provideparallel side surfaces which are offset with respect the parallel sidesof the notch 24 of this fork. The bottom of the notch is curved orarcuate like the bottom of the notch 2|. The bottom ofV the rabbet 23 isdepressed below the curved bottom of the notch 24 and, as is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2, lies slightly above the top edge of the web I ofthe bracket.

Figs. 2 and 3 disclose reinforcing and bracing bars 25 which are formedintegrally with and interconnect the side arms of the two forks I9 and20. That is to say, each one of the bars 25 is connected with the armsof both of the forks which lie on one side of the vertical plane of theweb I5. This manner of interconnecting or bracing the arms of the twoforksV materially strengthens these arms and causes all four of the armsto resist any end thrust applied to either fork by either roll which issupported by the bracket. These reinforcing and bracing bars 25 performadditional functions which will be explained at a later point.

In Fig. 2 the center roll II is illustrated as being supported on theroll shaft 26 by means v of an anti-friction roller bearing unit 2'I. Itwill be understood, of course, that both ends of the roll I| aresupported on the shaft 26 by roller bearing units. These anti-frictionbearings are of the combined radial and thrust type.

Each outer` race 28 is tted in the steel tube 29 The 15" `ted in thefork 2o.

inner race 3| is engaged by the sleeve 32 of a labyrinth grease seal.These grease seals at the opposite ends of the steel tube 29 cooperatewith the tube to form a lubricant reservoir 33 which is supplied withlubricant by the passage 34 formed in one end of the roll shaft 26.

A bearing adjusting nut 35 is threaded on the end of the roll shaft 26and bears against the sleeve 32 of the labyrinth seal with the resultthat the nut functions to position and adjust the associatedanti-friction roller bearing unit 21. By inspecting Figs. 2 and 4, itwill be seen that the bearing adjusting nut 35 is provided with acentral groove 36 which is formed with a cylindrical bottom. Both endportions of the nut, the portions lying on opposite sides of the centergroove 36, are of hexagonal shape in end elevation, see Fig. 4. Each oneof these end portions, therefore, is provided with three pairs ofparallel side faces.

Fig. 2 discloses the bearing adjusting nut 35 for the center roll II asbeing positioned in the fork I9. The cylindrical central portion 36 ofthis nut is received within the notch 2| of the fork I9. The enlarged,hexagonally shaped end portions of this nut lie on opposite sides of thefork. The enlarged, hexagonal end portion which lies outermost withrespect to the adjacent end of the roll II is fitted in the rabbetedpart 22 of this fork I9. The adjusting nut 35 can only be dropped intothe notch 2| of the fork I9 when one pair of parallel faces of itsinner' enlarged, hexagonal endV are arranged in parallelism with theside surfaces of the rabbet 22. In other words, the enlarged hexagonalend portion of the nut fits in Athe rabbet 22 with two of its six sidesurfaces associated with the side surfaces of the rabbet 2|) in such amanner that the nut is held' against rotation with respect to the forkI9 of the bracket. The location of the enlarged, hexagonal end portionsof the nut on opposite sides of the bracket I9 restrict axial movementof the roll I I relative to the bracket I0 to the amount of clearanceillustrated in Fig. 2.

With the opposite ends of the center roll shaft 26 supported by the twocenter or intermediate brackets I0 of Fig. 1, it will be appreciatedthat the forks I9 of these two brackets will cooperate with the twobearing adjusting nuts 35 to prevent rotation of these nuts and rotationof the shaft 26. The two forks, additionally, will provide adequatesupport for the short ends of the roll shaft 26 which project beyond theends of the roll and which are enclosed within the nuts 35. `Axialmovement of the roll II will be permitted only to a limited extent bythe cooperation of the adjusting nuts 35 with the forks I9. With thestructure so far described, the roll |I `may be assembled with respectto the two center brackets I I by merely dropping or fitting theadjusting nuts 35 into the notches 2| of the two bracket forks I9.

Fig. 2 discloses a bearing adjusting nut 35 t- This second adjusting nut35 is of identical construction to the nut for the center'roll Il andcooperates with the parts of the fork 20 in identically the same manneras the center roll nut 35. This second nut is the bearing adjusting nutfor the adjacent end of the outer "9 at an angle with respec-t to thecenter roll II.

- Figs. l, 2 and 4 disclose U-snaped retainer clips 31 as being appliedto the upper ends of the two center or intermediate brackets I0. Theseclips straddle the reinforcing and bracing bars 25 which interconnectthe side arms of the forks I9 and 20.l The clips, also, overlie theenlarged, hexagonally shaped end portions of the two adjusting nuts 35which are supported by the two forks I9 and 25. To retain the clips 31in place, Figs. l, 2 and 4 disclose a cotter 38 which passes throughapertures formed in the opposite, parallel end portions 31a of the clip.These apertures are so positioned that the cotter 38 will pass inwardlyof the bracing bars 25 and will cooperate with these bars to hold theclip against accidental displacement.

Leaving these clips 31 for the moment, Figs. l, 2 and 4 disclose a shortgrease pipe or Alemite fitting 39 which is of proper angular shape to bethreaded at one end into the outer end of the grease passage 34 of thecenter roll shaft 2S and to extend outwardly and downwardly to terminatealong one side of the bracket web I5. By means of this fitting and asuitable grease gun, grease may be forced into the lubricant reservoir33 of the center roll I I. It, of course, is only necessary to providesuch an Alemite fitting for one end of the center roll shaft 26. Theshafts for the outer rolls 9 are provided with grease passages in theirouter ends and suitable Alemite fittings are threaded in the extremitiesof these passages.

Returning now to the clips 31, it will be seen that they perform severalfunctions. By overlying the inner, hexagonal end portions of the twoadjusting nuts 35 supported by a bracket I0, the clip of that bracketholds the ends of both of the roll shafts assembled with respect to thebracket. The clips, therefore, overcome the need for banding theindividual rolls to the idler frame for shipment. The clips, also,retain the rolls against displacement while the idler is in use. Bybridging the space left between the forks I9 and 20, the clip 31 of eachbracket I0 acts asa cover or roof which prevents foreign matters spilledfrom the conveyor belt from dropping into this space. Should any matterbe thrown into the space between the forks and below the end edges ofthe ends 31a of the clip, this matter will not be retained or pocketedin the space due to the fact that the relatively thin, upper edge or endface of the bracket web I constitutes the only bottom wall of thisintervening space. f Each clip 31 performs the additional function oflimiting the upward swinging movement of the Alemite fitting or shortgrease pipev 39 so that it is impossible for this fitting to engage thebelt and be carried over to the opposite side of the idler. A fourthfunction performed by each clip 31 consists of reinforcing and bracingthe interconnected side arm of the two forks I9 and 23. In other words,the bars 25 interconnect and brace the arms of the two forks and theclip functions to prevent spreading of the two pairs of fork arms whichare connected by the bars 25.

Fig. 5 has been provided for the sole purpose of disclosing thepossibility of employing a different type of securing means 40 for theclip 31. This securing means, instead of being a cotter, is a wire withits opposite end portions bent at right angles. Any other form ofsecuring means may be provided which is capable of functioning tonormally retain the clip in place but which can be removed easily andquickly to permit the associated clip to be disconnected from itsbracket.

When i@ pfvi/Omes nefessay t0 lepllc? 23 WQIH out 0r? broken Centerr0.1! vH Qn the idler O f .1, it only becerees'nscessarr i9 remre theswung?, means 38 or V4I) for the two clips 31, lift the clips off of theupper ends of the two intermediate or center brackets IIIfand then liftthe bearing adjusting nuts 35 at the opposite ends of the center roll IIupwardly out of the forks I3 for the two brackets. The center roll thenis dismantled with fespei to the idler frame anda new ,Center roll andshaft assembly may be substituted by reversins the Pfedure- Wharf itisdesired to replace an outer roll 9, it only becomes necessary to removethe clip 31 at the inner end of this roll and withdraw the retaining pin4 I, see Fig. 1, which is passed through the end bracket 8 to retain thecuter end of the said roll 9 connected to this end bracket.

It is to be understood that the forms of this invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, We claim:

l. In a beltconveyer idler, an intermediate bracket for supportingadjacent ends of roll shafts, said bracket having a pair of spaced forksformed on its upper end, a bar on each side of said forks forinterconnecting the arms of the forks, a clip overlying the upper endsof the forks to straddle and rest upon said bars for preventingaccidental displacement of the shaft ends, and means for detachablysecuring the clip to said bars.

2. In a belt conveyer idler, a bracket for supporting the adjacent endsof idler roll shafts, comprising a central body portion, a pair ofspaced forks rising from the upper end of said body portion, said forksbeing notched to receive the ends of idler roll shafts, a reinforcingbar on each side of said forks for interconnecting the arms of the forksformed by said notches. a U-shaped clip bridging the space formedbetween the upper ends of the forks and the reinforcing bars and havingits opposite sides lying outwardly of said bars, and a member passingthrough the opposite sides of the clip and beneath the reinforcing barsfor securing the clip to said forks.

3. In a belt conveyer idler, a bracket for supporting the ends of idlerroll shafts, comprising a central body portion of T-shape in horizontalsection at its upper end portion, a fork rising from the upper end ofthe flange part of said body por tion, a second ange rising from theupper and outer corner portion of the web part of said body portion,said forks being notched to receive the ends of idler roll shafts, theinner edges of the notches being rabbetedto accommodate portions of nutson the ends of the roll shafts and togengage said nuts to prevent theirrotation, bars'connecting the arms of the two forks on the oppositesides of their notches, the spaced forks cooperating with the upper edgeof the body web and each of the two bars to form side openings for thepassage of a lubricant tting connected to a roll shaft end, a clipoverlying the upper ends of the forks to straddle and rest upon saidbars for preventing accidental displacement of the shaft ends andproviding protection for a lubricant fitting, and means for detachablysecuring the Iclip to said bars.

4. In a belt conveyer idler, a bracket for sup-V porting the ends ofidler roll shafts, comprising a central body portion -of 'lf-shapevhorizontal section at its upper end portion, afork rising'fr'om theupper end of the flange part of said body portion, a second fork risingfrom the upper and outer corner portion of the web part of said bodyportion, said forks being notched to receive the ends of idler rollshafts, the inner edges of the notches being rabbeted to accommodateportions of nuts on the ends of the ro11 shafts and to engage said nutsto prevent their rotation, bars connecting the arms of the two forks onthe opposite sides of their notches, the spaced forks cooperating withtheA upper edge of the -body web and each of the 10 forvs'ecurin'gtheclip ,to-saidforks.y

